Hello hello!! Well, it took around seven hours (on and off) of writing this, so here it is! I don't think it's as good as chapter one, but that's just my opinion. Ugh, who ever knew writing would be painful. As if my back wasn't sore enough (it's sad that a seventeen-year-old sounds like an old lady. Hahah), it also hurts from hunching over my sister's laptop like a caveman with his fire. Instead of a wife slaving over her stove for her family, I'm slaving over the computer for like... thirty people. XDD Anywho, enough of my complaining. Onto the story's disclaimer. YES THAT'S ALL YOU'RE ALLOWED TO READ!!

Disclaimer: I don't own Persona 4, any of its characters, Atlus, Japan, etc. etc.... BUT, I do own these fabulous chocolate chip cookies that I'm munching on! Except, these damn, hell-bent gnats are attacking them!! GRAAAAAAWWWRRRR!!!!

Chapter 2: Love's Game: A Penguin Story

January 28, 2012

The group was gathered in the Amagi Inn, prepared for their monthly ritual of "movie night." After everything that had happened the previous year, Yukiko's parents decided it would be okay to take one day of the month off so that the teenagers could relax in the living room. The chefs had prepared a simple course of the teens' favorites.

Before watching the movie, they ate at the request of Yosuke. His explanation was that they wouldn't be able to hear the movie over Chie's ravenous eating habits. His comment gained him the typical mumble from Chie, followed by a slap across the back of his head.

Everyone was huddled around the kotatsu in the center of the room. The heat from their cups of hot chocolate drifted into the air. The thin steam was a subtle reminder of their past year of struggles during the foggy weeks in Inaba. A moment of silence filled the atmosphere, as the steam continued to rise. However, the silence lasted only for a short time before a loud blowing noise interrupted.

All heads turned to face the cause of the sound. Rise was hunched over her cup, attempting to cool it off enough so that it would be drinkable. Oblivious to the others' eyes, she continued before she realized the quietness. Looking up, she was caught off guard at the stares she was receiving. They're looking at me like I did something wrong . . . I just wanted to drink my hot chocolate . . . , she whined.

A quiet snort came from the opposite side of the kotatsu. Yukiko's face was covered by her hand, trying to keep from laughing. Despite her endeavors, she began laughing loudly as the others joined in. Rise cocked her left eyebrow, confused at what was so amusing. She sighed and resumed cooling off her drink.

After the fits of laughter were over, Yukiko spoke up. "So, instead of normally just having one of us choose the movie, I think we should be a little democratic and vote!" Moans consumed the room, as each person wanted to choose the movie. Rise looked over at Naoto, who was simply minding her own business. Her ears perked up, as she leaned over to listen to what the detective was mumbling about.

"Democracy is foolish; it never works. That form only creates chaos and does nothing to appease the general wants of the people," Naoto muttered under her breath. She looked over to see a chuckling Rise. She rolled her eyes as she would toward any other person, but a small smile slid across her face.

Tiny slits of paper were passed out to each person. The instructions were simple: there were ten movie choices – circle the one that you wanted to watch. Rise's eyes scanned the picks, making a hopeful wish that "Gore Fest III" wouldn't win. She sipped a bit of her hot chocolate before reading the remaining four choices. When she reached the last one, she nearly spit her hot chocolate out like a camel.

She read the name repeatedly to make sure she wasn't hallucinating it. "Love's Game: A Penguin's Story." It can't be?! I've been wanting to watch it ever since it came out a few weeks ago!! My pick won't lose; it can't! Her pencil circled a neat, near perfect line around the title.

To assure no one cheated, since some weren't beneath cheating in order to watch their favorite movie, the group decided on Naoto to read the votes. The only level-headed person of the group, aside from Souji, Naoto read out each vote. Rise flinched as the detective called out "Gore Fest III" as one of the votes. Deciding to be a little nosy like a detective would, she scanned the others to see if their expression showed which one had voted for the horror movie. Her mission failed miserably after coming to the conclusion that it had to be one of the boys who voted for it since she had no evidence whatsoever. Looks like I wasn't meant to be a detective. I should definitely stick to showbiz.

The title of the movie she wanted to see finally came out of Naoto's mouth. She had to suppress a squeal from coming out. Only one vote sat in the middle of the table. It was mocking her. Its tongue was poking out of its mouth, waving back and forth as if its teasing wasn't agonizing by itself. Only to enhance the taunting, Naoto decided to be cruel to everyone and drag it out. She is pure evil! Ugh, the suspense is killing me!! If she doesn't read it pretty soon, I'm gonna jump across this kotatsu and read it myself!!

Rise's fists were turning white from the force that she was clenching them with. Her teeth dug into her lip, nearly drawing blood from the luscious pink flesh. Her eyes glanced quickly at the others. Chie was the only one just as nerve-racked as herself. A quiet continuous grunt came from the kung-fu lover as she rubbed the sleeves of her green jacket between her fingers.

Naoto opened her mouth to state the final vote. Each movie had only one vote, so the final one was crucial in victory. "Love's Game: A Penguin Story," she stated, a hint of disappointment penetrating her otherwise calm voice. A squeal shattered the room. Rise was standing up, spinning in circles from sheer joy. Sighs were released from each individual, except for Rise . . . and Kanji.

"So, all right. Who did it? Who voted for the dumb penguin movie aside from Rise-chan?" Yosuke asked, a slick grin plastered on his face. Whoever did it was going to receive an earful from him. No one answered. His mouth quivered from annoyance. "So then, does that mean Rise-chan CHEATED??!!" His back popped painfully from the quick transition from a sitting position to standing one.

"Rise-chan didn't cheat; I can assure you that much," stated Naoto. "No one here cheated."

"What, do you have that written down in your little detective book?" Yosuke snapped back. The two locked eyes. If it had been the samurai era, the two would have dueled with katanas, but in modern times, words were more effective in defeating an opponent. But before the two teenagers could open war against one another, Kanji stepped into the fray.

"Screw all this dumb-ass talk, and just watch the movie! We can't prove anybody did anythin' that was cheating, so let's just get over it and deal with it!" Kanji shouted. Although he had a tendency of getting upset easily, the group was shocked at his sudden outburst.

Rise wrapped her arm around Kanji's left arm, a smile beaming across her face. "Yeah, what Kanji said!! I'm gonna start the movie now, so no talking or you'll be banished from the Amagi Inn!" she said in a commanding way that she had no right to. Nonetheless, the others obeyed, silently glaring at the back of her head as they chose their seats.

As the previews played, the teens spread across the room, choosing the spot that they wanted to sit in. Rise and Kanji got as close to the television as they could, so much that it was probably bad for their eyesight. Souji and Yosuke grabbed a seat near the back, deciding to play poker instead of watching the movie. As for the other three girls, they quietly sat down in the middle of the room, being forced to sit near Teddie who kept repeatedly mumbling to himself "I've gotta bear it!"

Two hours later

Tears filled the eyes of the two penguin enthusiasts, while "hooray"s came from the other bored-senseless teens. Before leaving to get some takoyaki, Rise and Kanji were forced to pick up the tissues scattered across the floor, the whole time Kanji denying that he cried at all.

As if having to watch the movie wasn't painful enough, the other teenagers had to listen to Rise and Kanji recapping the whole movie. The streets were mainly empty, save for a few adults who were strolling around. The time was 7:38 p.m., yet surprisingly, the modest-sized takoyaki shop was still open. The girls sat down on the limited bench room, while the boys were forced to stand.

They gave their orders to Yosuke, who was used to being treated as a waiter even outside of Junes. As he approached the store owner, he mouthed a "please help me." Confused, the lady shrugged off the poor boy's plea of help. After he got the orders, he passed the food to each person. The penguin lovers continued to discuss the movie – the highlights, the down points, even the animation was included in the conversation. Yosuke took his station next to Souji, mumbling something about if only he had a gun to shoot himself in the head with.

One and a half hour later

The store had closed for the night, but two lone figures still sat there. The idol and the punk talked idly about the movie. The others had left, but the two didn't care. The movie was the best thing that they had ever seen, even if they had to ignore jokingly being made fun of.

However, it was getting late, and nightfall was nigh at hand. Yawning, Rise stood up, with Kanji mirroring her same moves. "Well, I better head home. It's getting kind of late, and this idol needs all of her beauty sleep!" She smiled before yawning again.

"Hey, uhh, why don't I walk you to your house? I mean, there could be punks roaming the streets and all. Uhh, plus, we can talk more about the movie!" he said nervously. Rise's giggle did little to calm his nerves, rather it was counterproductive.

"Suuure," she said, drawing the word out longer than intended due to an invading yawn attack. "But, I don't think there's that much more we can talk about the movie." His head dropped like a little boy who had just been dumped by his first girlfriend. Rise scrunched her face at what she said. That was pretty stupid, Rise. "Oh, but I think I heard some guys in our grade talking about some local thugs who wander the streets at night!" His head shot up with a small, but relaxed smile on his face. Those acting classes certainly do come in handy every once in awhile! I do have to admit though, it might be nice having Kanji walk me home now that Senpai doesn't . . .

A few steps later, and they arrived at her grandmother's tofu shop. She wished him goodnight before running happily into the quaint shop. Kanji mentally kicked himself after he realized that she let him walk her home just to be nice, seeing as how her home was only a few feet from the takoyaki shop. "Still," he whispered, "it was kind of Rise to do that . . . Even if it did make me look like a dumb-ass . . ."

Aww... not as much fluff as I wanted, but I'll trying working more of it into the final chapter!!! Dun dun dun!! Although, I am enjoying writing then as a couple, so I might drag it out a little longer, depends on if I feel like it... or if anyone else feels like it either. XD

[SOMETHING YOU SHOULD READ IF YOU READ THE FIRST CHAPTER BEFORE I EDITED IT] I accidentally put in the first chapter that the story took place during January 2011, but then I realized that the group didn't get together until around September-ish. So, I changed it to 2012. Whoopsies! =)

Now then, off to go get some lighter fluid and burn these evil gnats. Heheheheh....